Well, i was having a good time driving until my second minor accident, and now i realize im expendable. Now i feel like a guest who'se about to get kicked out.

Its difficult to avoid minor accidents as a new driver because of the many intricacies that can get you in trouble. A proper training and trainer will emphasis the most crucial information, such as low bridges or how you should avoid right turns in a 90 degree intersection as much as you should avoid blind side backing. You are lucky if you get a training program that is worth something. There is so much info my company should have provided but didnt and i have to deal with the repercussions. I'm not blaming them for my accidents but they expect too much from rookies.

The way these larger companies operate is that they filter out "bad" drivers. No accidents? You're a "good" driver! Hooray for you. It doesnt matter if you do 55mph down 6% grades every day, as long as you dont damage equipment, you're golden. Instead of building genuinly good drivers by letting them make the minor mistakes, they keep a taly; 3 "preventable" accidents and strike, you're out. You bad driver you. Meanwhile high horse joe (who sucks at driving) is accident free mainly due luck and he gets all the praise, while you (a potentialy good driver eager to learn) is going to be filtered out.

This field is too unfriendly to new drivers. Experienced drivers are judged by the same standards as rookies. There should be a 6 month window (at least) for rookies to be allowed to make minor mistakes with no jeapardy to their jobs. Instead we get our jobs threatened; a fantastic boost to confidence to know that if you make 1 more minor mistake its termination. I have one more strike but im a good and safe driver, but i cannot call myself a truck driver until i have made most of the mistakes. But the trucking industry has almost a zero tolerance policy for mistakes for rookie drivers, and that is inhuman and unfair. So i really have doubts about the field now.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

First mistake was right turn at intersection, trailer went onto sidewalk and right side hit stop light covers bending them. I almost hit the pole that held the stop light. I had to reverse, go left then forward to widen the turn into oncoming traffic to clear it. Minor damage to trailer, no tears or holes.

Second incident sight side back between two trucks at pilot, put about a 1 foot x 2 inch gash in another trucks fiberglass bumper with rear right of dot bumper. I wish i would have been told to avoid such a back until i was more skilled. Thats what i would tell a student if i was a trainer.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Second incident sight side back between two trucks at pilot, put about a 1 foot x 2 inch gash in another trucks fiberglass bumper with rear right of dot bumper. I wish i would have been told to avoid such a back until i was more skilled. Thats what i would tell a student if i was a trainer.

Remember GOAL! (Get Out And Look)

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Second incident sight side back between two trucks at pilot, put about a 1 foot x 2 inch gash in another trucks fiberglass bumper with rear right of dot bumper. I wish i would have been told to avoid such a back until i was more skilled. Thats what i would tell a student if i was a trainer.

Remember GOAL! (Get Out And Look)

That brings up another point. Many new drivers are eager to prove themselves like i was. A good instructor should shatter that mentality by tellling the student to avoid difficult and unnessesary situations so their cdl stays clean.

I got out and looked but too early btw. Wasnt too useful.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.

Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Well you can't change what has happened, but you gotta be extra careful and learn from your mistakes. If you can go a month without hitting something then you can go a year and another. Get some safe driving in and you will look back at this as just a rough start. If your unsure about a turn then don't take it, find another way. You still have a chance to redeem yourself to your company. Good luck.

1st mistake you should of learned with your trainer use your right shoulder and as soon as its lined up with the center lines in road making your turn on too you make your turn 2nd yup GOAL but personally if you didnt feel comfortable backing I would have found another spot and when your not rolling go hit up an empty parking lot and practice good luck and dont give up just keep trying you will get it

I will try again but extra careful like you said. If it doesnt work then screw it, i will switch careers or perhaps join tzu chi (a buddhist relief organization) which i was going to do before i got my cdl.

Thanks.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.

Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

1st mistake you should of learned with your trainer use your right shoulder and as soon as its lined up with the center lines in road making your turn on too you make your turn 2nd yup GOAL but personally if you didnt feel comfortable backing I would have found another spot and when your not rolling go hit up an empty parking lot and practice good luck and dont give up just keep trying you will get it

Oh this wasnt that kind of turn. It was a mandatory 2 lane split if you want to make it. I didnt split and made the turn any way. It was my fault, i felt pressured to tough it out. Bad idea.

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